Intellectual Disability: promoting personal hygiene …
Intellectual Disability: promoting
personal hygiene in adults
Adults are generally expected to be able to manage personal hygiene activities such as washing, shaving and cleaning teeth.
Adults with intellectual disability may need extra support and time to learn the skills they need for these hygiene activities.
Intellectual disability and hygiene skills
Intellectual disability may mean someone has problems:
• Learning new behaviours and skills
• Knowing when and how to do certain hygiene activities
• Working out what to do when they come across a problem.
When supporting a person with intellectual disability, it is important to:
• Have realistic expectations
• Understand that each person will have different support needs
• Choose the best supports to help the person to become more independent. For example, some people like photo schedules to help them learn routines.
• Be ready to help with ‘trouble-shooting’ if the person comes across a problem.
Making the connection between hygiene and positive outcomes
Some people find the idea of mastering hygiene activities more meaningful if they connect it to positive outcomes such as:
• Looking and smelling good
• Feeling healthy
• Feeling accepted by friends and members of the community
• Having more choices and control over their hygiene activities
• Receiving praise and recognition for their efforts.
When talking to someone about good hygiene:
• Be specific about the benefits
• Ask for input. Find out what results are important to them
• Name the hygiene activities that will lead to those results
• Make a list, chart or photo schedule of the activities if that is helpful.
For example, if someone says that going to the football with mates is important, write down all the activities they need to do to get ready for the football, for example:
• Clean teeth
• Put on footy clothing
• Brush hair.
You may wish to use pictures or photos to assist. This is a simple and effective way of making a clear link between hygiene habits and the ‘bigger picture’.
To protect vulnerable children and adults, it is best not to take or use photos of anyone who is undressed or using the toilet.
Routine
Personal hygiene activities such as showering are part of a daily routine. Getting into the habit of doing things at the same time each day can make personal hygiene habits much easier to learn.
Schedules
Schedules help bring routine and predictability to a person’s day. A written schedule may help the person understand and remember the planned activities.
[pic]
Using pictures of activities in the order in which they occur during the day is a great way to promote independence and help the person learn routines.
Your regional office could help you develop a schedule if you wish.
Praise
Comments from relatives, friends, parents and carers can help strengthen the connection between hygiene activities and positive outcomes.
A few phrases you might like to try out:
• ‘Good on you for…(getting showered before work)’
• ‘I know I don’t say this very often but I just wanted to say I’m proud of you for…(taking pride in how you look)’
• ‘I really appreciated the way you…(cleaned up the bathroom when you were finished)’
• ‘I like the way you…(invited your friend over)’
• ‘By the way congratulations on…(getting to the festival with your friends)’
• ‘I thought you did a good job with…(choosing your clothes today)’
• ‘By the way I have to say I was really impressed with… (how you and your mates had a great time at the football)’.
References
As Children Grow Older: Into the Future for Parents with Intellectual Disability. G Llewellyn, R Grace-Dunn & M Dibden, 1998, Paper from Changing Families, Challenging Futures, 6th Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference, Melbourne, 25–27 November 1998
Every Girl, 3rd Edition, D Llewelyn Jones & S Abraham, 2000, Oxford University Press, Melbourne
Learning Through the Senses, Dept of Health Community Services, 2001, Northern Territory Government: Health House
Parenting SA: Self-Esteem [online] Accessed on 23/06/16 at:
The Years that Count: Maximise motivation, grades and optimism in your senior school student, K Smout, 2006, Innovate Psychology and Education: Wayville, South Australia
Visual Strategies for Improving Communication: Practical Supports for the Home and School, L Hogdon, 1995, QuirkRoberts Publishing: Michigan
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